Antifriction-bearing mechanism for spring shackles



July 1, 1924 v 1.499388 R. M. LOVEJOY ANTIFRICTION BEARING MECHANISM FOR SPRING SHACKLES Original Filed April 11 i922 Afim'neysc Patented July 1, 1924.

NET-ED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

v Bartram. Lovmox, or nosron, massaonnsnr'rs.

aiarrrrruc'rroia-imamuae mncnamsmfron srnme smears.

Continuation of application Serial No. 551,584, filed April 11, 1922. This application filed January 20,

1923. Serial No. 613,890.

To all whom it may concern:- y

Be it known that I, RALPH M. LovEJoY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, countyof Sufiolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Antifriction-Bearing Mechanism for Spring Shackles, of which the following description, in connection withtheaccompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts. v

This invention relates to spring shackles for vehicles and comprises certain improve-.

ments upon the construction disclosed in my prior Patent 1,467,051, granted Septem-' her i, 1923.

The principal object of the invention 1s casing adapted to be connected to the frame of a vehicle and having a swinging member pivotally mounted in said casing and also pivotally connected to the spring, with means for more effectively resisting lateral movement of said swinging member.

Av further object of the invention is to provide a construction comprising a swing:

ing mom r pivotally mounted in the casing and having laterally extending trunnions with more effective and durable bearings and also with a simplified and improved means for preventing lateral movement of the swinging member. a

The construction disclosed in my prior application comprises a casing adapted to be secured to the frame of a vehicle havingv a swinging member provided with flat faces and laterally. extending trunnions mounted to swing about a horizontal axis in said casing and provided with means for pivotally securing the same to the spring.- In that construction the trunnions of the swinging member were mounted in cup.- sha ed bearing members with a cup-shaped anti-friction device enclosin the trunnions,

the specific anti-friction evice disclosed therein comprising oil-soaked wood cut diagonally of the grain.

The present construction differs from that v disclosed inthe previous application in that the lateral movement of the trunnion is revented by sleeves of larger diameter t an the trunnions, surrounding the trunnions, said sleeves being longer than the trunnions and abutting at their inner ends against the flat faces of the swinging member and prevented from longitudlnal movement.

- A further feature of the invention consists in interposing between the sleeves and the trunnions a bearing of anti-friction ma.- terial, preferably oil-soaked wood, with the grain extending vertically so that the ends of the fibres engage the upper and lower Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the end por tion of the frame and of the spring of an automobile connected by a. spring shackle embodying the invention; 7 v

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2.2

:Fig. 1, certain portions, however, being shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a perspectlve view of one of the sleeves for preventing lateral movement of the swinging member, showing the grain extending in substantial parallelism with the axis of the sleeve; and,

Fig. t is a perspective view of a bearing 1 of fibrous material, such as, wood, with the grain extendingtransversely of the axis of the sleeve.

The spring shackle embodying th present invention is illustrated herein as applied to the end of one of the side bars 1 of the frame of a vehicle, such as an automobile,

and the spring of the .vehicle, which comprises 'an upper long leaf 2, a second leaf 3 aving a slot 4 in its end of greater width than the stud which connects a member of the shackle to the upper leaf 2 to permit relative Ion itudinal movement between the leaves 2 an .3 of the spring, and a plurality of other s rin'g leaves 5 and 6 of succesboss 15 having a flat or finished surface to form an abutment for one end of one of the members which support the trunnions of the swinging member and.t-he opposite side of the casing is provided with an outwardly I extending boss 16 to produce a thickened wall to receive the screw threaded head 17 of a bolt 18 which forms the pivot for supporting the swinging member of the shackle.

The head 17 of the bolt 18 presents a flat surface of considerable area disposed in parallelism with'the surface 15 and is adapted to engage the end of the other member which supports the trunnion of the swinging member. The head 17 of the bolt 18 desirably is provided with a hexagonal tool socket and. is slotted radially. A screw threaded expanding plug 19 is driven into suitable complementary screw threaded sockets in opposite walls of the slot so that the head may be expanded in the aperture of the boss 16 and locked firmly therein. By this means a permanent adjustment of the head 17 may be provided for the purpose of taking up wear in the bearings for the swinging member.

The movable members of the shackle comprise a swinging member which is pivotally faces and having trunnions 21 and 22 extending laterally from its opposite flat faces. The body portion of the swinging member and the trunnions are provided with a relatively large central aperture 23 which is considerably greater in diameter than the diameter of the bolt 18 upon which the swinging member is mounted. The trunnions 21 and 22 of the swinging member are mounted in anti-friction bearings which.

are carried by the bolt 18. These bearings preferably comprise oppositely disposed cylindrical cup-shaped members having flat bases 24, peripheral cylindrical walls 25'and central cylindrical walls 26 the bolt 18. j

The outer walls 25 preferably are pro vided' with outwardly curved marginal flanges 27 which serve to strengthen the wall and also provide curved inner edges 28 to fibres engage the flat faces of the body and l enable the sleeves and bearings for the trunnions to be more readily introduced, these sleeves and bearings preferablybeing composed of fibrous material, such as, oilsoaked wood, which are forced into the cupshaped member by hydraulic pressure or otherwise.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the trunnions are mounted in cylindrical bearings 29 of fibrous material, prefera'bly oil-soaked wood, in which the grain extends transversely of the axis of the bearing, the bearings being so placed upon the t-runnions that the ends of the fibres of the wood will engage the upper and lower portions of the bearing where the greatest wear occurs. 1

The bearings 29 are enclosed in cylindrical sleeves 30 of greater efiective length than the length of the trunnions and bearings 29, the sleeves 30 being of a thickness to fit between the periphery of the bearings and the peripheral cylindrical wall 25 of the cup-shaped members. The inner ends of the sleeves 3O abut against the fiat faces of the body 20 of the swinging member and their outer ends engage the bases 24 of said cupshaped members. The sleeves 30 desirably are of fibrous anti-friction material, pref-y erably ofoil-soaked wood, in which. the grain extends lengthwise, that is to say, substantially parallel to the direction of the axis of the sleeves so that the ends of the bases of the cup-shaped members.

In the construction of the device the anti sembled upon the trunnions of the swinging member and this assembled construction in-.

troduced into the casing. The bolt 18 is then passed through the casing and the apertures formed by the cylindrical inner walls 26 of the cup-shaped members, the head 17 of the bolt 18 screwed into the casing until its' head engages one of the cupshapedmembers and forces the same laterally to cause the complementary cup-shaped member to engage firmly the fiat surfaces of the casing. A nut-andspririg washer 31 ,is then,placed upon the: "end ofjthe b'oltwhich projects through-the casing and set up tightly;';-=-.'lhe head 17 of the bolt istheniexpanded by the introductionof the wedge screw. 19 so that the bolt is firmly locked in 1 the casing against displacement.

members within the casing. As illustrated hereirn straps 32, provided with enlarged circular portions having central apertures to embrace the bolt 18, are secured to the bases of the cup-shaped members by spot welding, or otherwise, and the opposite ends of the straps are connected to the casing by suitable anchoring members. The lower end of the swinging member is provided with an enlarged hollow head 33 preferably provided with an anti-friction lining 34 having a spherical socket to receive a ball 35 to form a universal connection with the swingin member. The ball 35 desirably is pro- .vi ed with a shank 36 having a base 37 which rests upon the upper leaf spring 2. A shank 38, extending downwardly from said base, passes through a suitable aperture in the spring and is connected to said spring by a sleeve 39 and nuts 40 as described in my prior application.

In the operation of the device the inner ends of the sleeves are firmly held between the cup-shaped members and the flat faces of the body 20 of the shackle. The diameter of these sleeves is sufliciently greater than the trunnions so that their inner ends engage the body 20 of the shackle at a relatively great distance from the horizontal axis about which the swinging member oscillates. These sleeves, therefore, are so located as to exert a powerful resistance against lateral movement of the swinging member. :By providing sleeves of fibrous material, such as. oil-soaked wood, in which the ends are prrsented to the flat faces of the swinging member, an anti-friction bearing is provided and also a bearing face which is not readily worn away. The inner cylindrical bearing members 29, preferably of fibrous material, such as, oil-soaked wood, also present the ends of the fibers to the trunnions and produce an anti-friction bearing upon which wear-is practically negligible, so thatthe bearingswhich support the trunnions of the swinging member and permit its oscillation are of a durable character and the sleeves which permit the lateral movement of the trunnions are likewise of a durable character and positioned at such distance from the axis. about which the swinging member oscillates, as to effectively prevent lateral movement of said member. The universal connection between the lower end of the swinging member and the spring permits torsional movements of the spring without imposing severe lateral strains upon fthe swinging member.

By reason of the'adjustability a the bolt 18 any Wear upon the ends of the", sleeves may be taken up readily. and replacement of the bearings and sleeves can'be easily made by removing the bolt 18 when the parts become worn. Where oil-soaked wood of the character described is employed for the bearings and sleeves for the trunnions there is seldom need of replacement for it is well known that bearin of oil-soaked wood, in which the friction is resisted by the ends of the fibres, are of a most durable quality and r in fact seldom need replenishment of oil so may be occasioned being readily taken up in the manner aforesaid.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is of an illustrative character and is not restrictive and that various changes in form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A spring shackle for vehicles comprising a casing adapted to be secured to the frame of a vehicle, a member presenting flat faces having trunnions extending therefrom, pivotally mounted in said casing to swing about a. horizontal axis, bearings for said trunnions, sleeves surrounding said trunnions of larger diameter and greater effective length than said trunnions and free from contact with the ends of said trunnions abutting at their inner ends against the flat faces of said swinging member, means for preventing longitudinal movement of said sleeves and means .for pi'votally connecting said swinging member to the spring. 7

2. A spring shacklefor vehicl's comprising a casing adapted to be secured to the frame of a vehicle, a member presenting flat faces having trunnions extending therefrom, pivotally mounted in said casing to swing about a horizontal axis, tubular sleeves surrounding said trunnions of larger diameter and of greater effective length than said trunnions and free from contact with the ends of. said trunnions abutting at their inner ends against the flat faces of said swinging member and engaging at their outer ends sockets rigid with said casing and means for. adjusting one of said sockets and means for pivotally isospring shackle for vehicles compris-- faces having trunnions extendi'ng therefrom,

pivotally mounted in said casing toswing about a horizontal axis, tubular sleeves of fibrous material of greater efiective length than said trunnions and free from contact with the ends of said trunnions, having their 'fibres extending substantially in the direction of the axis of said sleeve surrounding said trunnions, abutting at t-heirinner ends against the flat faces of said swinging member, means for preventing longitudinal movement of said sleeves and means for pivotally connecting said swinging member to the spring.

4. A spring shackle for vehicles comprising a casing adapted to be secured to the frame of a vehicle, a member presenting fiat faces having trunnions extending therefrom, pivotally mounted in said casing to swing about a horizontal axis, tubular sleeves of oil-soaked wood of greater effective length than said trunnionsand free from contact with the ends of said trunnions having the grain extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said sleeve surrounding said trunnions, abutting at their inner ends against the fiat faces of the swinging member, means for preventing longitudinal movement of said sleeves and means for pivotally connecting said swinging member to the spring.

5. A spring shackle for vehicles comprising a casing adapted to be secured to the f'rameof a vehicle, a member presenting flat faces having trunnions extending therefrom, pivotally mounted in said casing to swing about a horizontal axis, outer tubular sleeves of greater length than said trunnions surrounding said trunnions and inner tubular bearings of anti-friction material intermediate of said trunnions and said sleeves,

. means for preventing longitudinal movement of said sleeves and means for pivotally connecting said swinging member to the spring.

6. A spring shackle for vehicles comprising a casing adapted to be secured to the frame of a vehicle, a member presenting flat about a horizontal axis, outer tubular sleeves of oil-soaked wood having the ends of the grain engaging the top and bottom portions of said trunnions and means for pivotally connecting said swinging member to the spring.

7. A spring shackle for vehicles comprising a casing adapted to be connected to the frame of a vehicle, a horizontal bolt mount ed in said casing, cup-shaped socket members mounted on said bolt, outer tubular sleeves of oilsoaked wood having the grain extending in substantial parallelism with the axis ofsaid sleeves, inner' bearings of oilsoaked wood having the grain extending substantially vertical, a swinging member presenting flat faces engaging the inner ends of said sleeve and having alined trunnions presenting flat faces engaging the inner ends I of said sleeve and having alined trunnions journalled in said bearing shorter than the.

length ofsaid sleeve and. an aperture extending longitudinally through said trunnions of greater diameter than that of the bolt.

9. A spring shackle for vehicles comprising a casing adapted to be secured to the frame of a vehicle, a member presentin fiat faces having trunnions extending therefrom, pivotally mounted in saidcasing to swing about a horizontal axis, bearings for said trunnions including sleeves of larger diameter than said trunnions and free-from contact with the ends of said trunnions abutting at their inner ends against the flat faces of the pivotally mounted member and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said sleeves whereby lateral movement of said swinging member will be prevented and means for connecting said swinging member to the spring.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

RALPH M. LOVEJOY. 

